Gigamon Inc. GIMO is scheduled to report first-quarter 2016 results on Apr 28. Last quarter, the network traffic management software provider posted a positive earnings surprise of 33.33%. Notably, the company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate thrice in the trailing four quarters, with an average positive earnings surprise of 92.59%. Let’s see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors to Consider Gigamon’s product launches continue to drive growth at the company. The GigaSMART and GigaVUE-HC2 platforms are witnessing increased adoption. Moreover, the company is adding clients, which should boost its first-quarter results. However, in addition to intensifying competition from Juniper Networks Inc. JNPR and Cisco, the company is witnessing pricing challenges. Therefore, to retain market share, Gigamon may have to lower the prices of its products and services, which will, in turn, hurt its profitability. Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively show that Gigamon will beat earnings this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. That is not the case here as you will see below. Zacks ESP: The Most Accurate estimate stands at 2 cents, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged higher at 4 cents. That translates into a difference of -50.00%. Zacks Rank: Gigamon’s Zacks Rank #2, when combined with a negative ESP, makes surprise prediction difficult. Note that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing a negative estimate revisions momentum. Stocks That Warrant a Look Here are a couple of stocks which you may consider, as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter: Microchip Technology Inc. MCHP, with an Earnings ESP of +3.33% and a Zacks Rank #1. Equifax Inc. EFX, with an Earnings ESP of +1.74% and a Zacks Rank #2. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report EQUIFAX INC (EFX): Free Stock Analysis Report JUNIPER NETWRKS (JNPR): Free Stock Analysis Report GIGAMON INC (GIMO): Free Stock Analysis Report MICROCHIP TECH (MCHP): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research